I am the first one to admit DS9 uses the concept of time travel too much. “Children of Time” is the eighth such instance and the third of the fifth season alone. There is not much room to complain about it here, though. “Children of Time” is oe of the best episodes of the series.The Defiant investigates strange energy readings over a planet in the Gamma Quadrant. They discover the planet is inhabited by their descendants and a two hundred years older Odo. . In two days time, there is going to bean accident which will send the ship back two hundred years in time, marooning them there in the process.
As they plan out a way to prevent the crash from happening, the crew bond with their descendents. Eventually, they come to realize they have to go through with the crash as originally occurred so that al these people can live. There is one catch--kira does not survive.
She decides to sacrifice herself so the rest may live. But when they go through all the proper motions to recreate the crash, it does not happen. Our odo comes to Kira’s quarters later to confess the other Odo sabotaged the plan so she would not have to die. He says he committed the act out of love, but kira is aghast 8,000 people were wiped out of existence in her name.
I have mixed feelings about it myself. I am still in the camp Odo loves Kira een though the writers have been shifting away from the idea since “Shakaar.” Odo is still profoundly lonely regardless, but he has always tried to fill that lonely void with the pursuit of justice. Somehow, sacrificing 8,000 people--an unjust act-- for a love he can never have does not seem like something Odo would do.
Perhaps the intervening two hundred years changed his attitude or seeing Kira again after all that time affected him deeply. Whichever the case, his decision is bitterly tragic. The emotional impact offers “Children of Time” a boost above most other episodes.
Ratings: **** (out of 5)
